Director George Miller on the Surprising Success of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

The success of “Mad Max: Fury Road” last year was a surprise to everyone, including writer-director George Miller.

“I really did not expect to be talking about ‘Mad Max’ in 2016,” the 70-year-old Australian filmmaker told the Journal earlier this week in New York City. Miller’s last “Mad Max” film, “Beyond Thunderdome,” was released in 1985, and he no longer had star Mel Gibson in the iconic title role.

For Miller, “Fury Road” marks another interesting chapter in his nearly four decade career. With the Golden Globes and the Oscar nominations around the corner, the filmmaker said he is “cautiously optimistic” about the film’s chances. “It’s a little like lawyers and doctors,” he said. “You’re crazy to try and prognosticate the best outcome. You always go to the worst-case scenario.”